Watch dial arrangement



30, 1956 E. MOTTIRONI WATCH DIAL ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 15, 1964 IIFNEWHHHIHWHE E United States Patent 3,269,108 WATCH DIAL ARRANGEMENT Enrico Mottironi, La Pallanterie, Switzerland, assignor to Compagnie des Montres Ardath, Dreyfuss & Cie, Geneva, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,437 Claims priority, 'application/gwitzerland, Jan. 8, 1964,

4 Claims. (Cl. 5888) The present invention relates to a watch characterized by comprising a dial formed of at least two interchangeable parts, an opening provided in the case for the insertion of these dial parts between the glass and a protective plate covering the movement, and elastic means within the case to press the parts of the dial elastically against each other once they have been inserted into the case.

The attached drawing illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of the watch of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through lines 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the watch.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a detail of the watch parts unassembled.

The watch illustrated comprises a dial formed of two interchangeable parts 1 and 2 which can be inserted into an opening 3 provided in case 4 between the glass (not shown) and a protective plate 5 covering movement 6 on the dial side. A U-shaped spring 7, located within case 4 between a shoulder 8 and the protective plate 5, serves to hold dial parts 1 and 2 elastically against each other once they have been inserted into the case, as shown for part 2 at the right of FIG. 2.

Protective plate 5 is provided with a central scutcheon 9, of generally oval shape, which serves firstly for mounting hour pipe 10, the hands being above dial parts 1, 2 as shown in FIG. 1, and secondly for securing the two dial parts 1 and 2, the edges whereof, intended to touch at 1 and 2' respectively, are anchored at 11 so as to take the shape of scutcheon 9. This protective plate 5 further comprises a rim 12 which bears underneath shoulder 8 to make a free space intended to receive dial parts 1 and 2.

Said parts 1 and 2 are each provided with an outer gripping rim 13 which presses against case 4 when said parts 1 and 2 are in place. Each part 1 and 2 further 3 169,103 Patented August 30, 1966 ice comprises an indentation forming a free space 15 wherein spring 7 is mounted.

Dial parts 1 and 2 may be decorated with a variety of designs or may be of difierent colors which means that the outward appearance of the described watch may be changed as desired, particularly to match the bracelet or clothing of the wearer. Such changes do not involve disassembling the case and can be made quite simply by grasping rims 13 with ones fingernails or with a tool, pulling the dial parts out of the watch case, and replacing said dial parts by others.

What I claim is:

1. A watch characterized by comprising a dial formed of at least two interchangeable parts, a case providing an opening for the insertion of said dial parts, said case further comprising a cover glass on one side of said opening and a protective plate on the other side thereof, and elastic means within the case to press the parts of the dial elastically against each other once they have been inserted into the case.

2. The watch of claim 1 characterized by comprising a protective plate arranged within the case to cover the movement on the dial side, said protective plate having a central scutcheon, of generally oval shape, which serves firstly for mounting the hour pipe and secondly for securing the dial parts the edges whereof, intended to touch each other, are anchored so as to take the shape of said scutcheon.

3. The watch of claim 2 characterized in that the case is provided with a shoulder between the dial and the glass, and in that said protective plate comprises a rim pressing against said shoulder to make a space intended to receive said dial parts.

4. The watch of claim 1 characterized in that each of the two dial parts has an outer gripping rim which presses against the case when said parts are in place.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,024 7/1909 Sanford 58-2 1,843,789 2/1932 Smith ll6129 2,014,531 9/1935 Knopf ll6-l29 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

GERALD F. BAKER, Examiner. 

1. A WATCH CHARACTERIZED BY COMPRISING A DIAL FORMED OF AT LEAST TWO INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS, A CASE PROVIDING AN OPENING FOR THE INSERTION OF SAID DIAL PARTS, SAID CASE FURTHER COMPRISING A COVER GLASS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENING AND A PROTECTIVE PLATE ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, AND ELASTIC MEANS WITHIN THE CASE TO PRESS THE PARTS OF THE DIAL ELASTICALLY AGAINST EACH OTHER ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN INSERTED INTO THE CASE. 